As all of us hear and state First Impression is your LAST impression. Thus, you only get one single opportunity to make a first impression and for years and years that this humble piece of paper we call that a business card has been the prime tool for transferring personal and business info to new connections and customers in a mutually identified format. Even in today’s virtual world of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, this simple piece of card goes from strength to strength.

You meet a lot of people and almost everyday day hand out your business cards to a number of your potential customers. But the reaction you are getting is pretty discouraging and ineffective. The majority of the folks that you meet push your business card in their pockets without even considering it. Even if some people do look at it, then it is just a glance before they place it straight in their pockets. And you get the sense that they might just put your business card in a drawer or even a cluttered corner, or, worse yet, that they throw it directly into the recycling bin! This of course means that this person won’t ever follow up with you for business.

Like everyone else, do you wish that your business card stands outside? If you want your business card to make an enduring impression instead of ending up in a dustbin, here are some smart tips to make that happen:

1. Ask your designer to design a custom business card to meet your brand and company. Don’t get stuck on the free or inexpensive small business card templates that are offered on the internet. Get a business card designed that really is a visual representation of your business, idea, and individuality with your own logo imprinted over it together with the visual design elements. A unique business card will definitely stand out more than any typical template which people are already used to seeing.

2. Opt for a paper that’s thick and have a nice feel. This will make your business card just feel more significant than others. Get your business card printed on a bit thicker, smoother, softer, or maybe a textured paper. You may also select a paper that goes with your business identity and strengthens your new message. You can go for a conventional or a old-fashioned appearance of a paper, or an ivory linen sheet, or even for a giving a top tech looks you can choose a smooth, glowing white and slightly glossy paper.

3. Use either side of the business card to get your entire message across. There are tons of possibilities and ways of utilizing both sides of the card. You can put your tagline or a concise list of your solutions, business branches or advice about your services and products. The back of the business card is already there so why not utilize it efficiently? To make your card more identifying you might also put a photo or an image that reinforces your brand new.

4. Make your card more valuable by giving offers/discounts through it. If you’re offering a free appointment or some kind of a discount additionally, you can use it like a coupon also for new contacts. You can publicize your offer in your card so individuals keep it together to use it in near future. The possibilities of your card stepping right to a recycle bin get reduced.

5. A fold-out card is also a fantastic option. This format is quite useful and effective in providing a list of samples of your prior work when prospective customers expect you to have a portfolio. A fold-out card can also be used to inform prospective customers more about your key services or products.

6. Cutting the card at an interesting way makes it exclusive. Choosing a square wrought iron rather than a typical rectangular one or cards with rounded corners or angled borders are visually intriguing to grab people’s attention.

Any of these ideas will certainly distinguish your business card in the crowd and will make that first impression on your potential client. You can also combine these choices to make it even more exclusive and effective. The aim is to produce your own card land in the “keeper” pile rather than the trash bin.